More grim news (or good news, depending on how you look at it) on the global warming front. Earlier today, I read about a NOAA study that found climate change was basically irreversible. The reason is that reducing or halting carbon dioxide emissions won't stop global warming. The study's leader is Susan Solomon, a well-regarded NOAA scientist.It's grim news if you're concerned about anthropogenic global warming and its apparent ability to raise sea levels and dehydrate land. Or good news because, as Solomon is quoted in the article, you still might as well do something about it, and this helps keep the spotlight on global warming. Definitely read the article and decide what you should infer from it.
I've received a lot of feedback about "40º And Rising," the photo feature of Jon Bowermaster's exploratory trip to Antarctica, which you can find in our Nov/Dec 2008 issue.  So global warming is still a hot (dorky pun, I know) topic. Some readers stated that global warming is natural and there's no empirical evidence that shows it's manmade.
That's great feedback, in my book. My Editor's Note in our Sept/Oct. 2007 issue (Getting Hotter) basically stated that we need to embrace all views to get at the truth because, let's face it, the vast majority don't really know what's happening. Even well-respected scientists are not in agreement on global warming. I know the IPCC is about as certain as it gets that global warming is real and dangerous, but I've also read articles written by guys 1,000 times more educate than me debunk it. I also think it's obvious that people often opine on it in a way that aligns with their political beliefs. Conservative? Global warming is a lie. Liberal? It's destroying the environment. Kayaker? It's drying up my river.
It's funny how skeptics and believers cite every cold or hot day as evidence to support their beliefs. I've been reading about it A LOT lately, and I cannot be considered anything close to an expert. I'm probably as uncertain of it now as I've ever been. But I plan to address it in my March-April Editor's Note in Paddler. I hope it will shed light and make sense.

It’s not every day you get the chance to witness a first descent, and technically what I experienced was not a 1D, but to me it was just as impressive. Last October, Rob McKibbin, a local hero of the Skykomish River system in Washington State, ran 275-foot Sunset Falls, something no one had every done. Except for a guy named Al Faucett, who back in the 1920s ran Sunset in a dugout canoe.
But no one had even touched it since then and it seemed more myth than fact that Faucett did it. Rob, who lives in a small, humble chalet near The Sky, had been eyeing Sunset for some time, however.. Problem is, you can't just walk up to it and run it, even if you have the balls for that sort of thing. Private property and other restricted land surrounds Sunset, whose base used to be the put-in for the popular main run on The Sky until it was deemed off limits to paddlers.
But on this day, Rob (pictured left) wanted it badly enough to go for it.
At Rob's request, Christian Knight, our senior editor, went out to Sunset to be on safety and catch it on video. Joe Jackson, our editorial assistant, and I tagged along to also provide safety and do whatever else we could to assist. Rob also had another friend there as well.
Sunset Falls is a lot different than many of the waterfalls pictured in Paddler. We ran a photo of it in our Nov/Dec 2008 issue, and it simply doesn't do it justice. It's not dead vertical. It's more like an incredibly huge and dangerous Class VIII rapid that seems like an inconceivable descent.?Basically, sure death.
Shortly before Rob got in his boat, I asked him if there was anything I could do. He put his hands together and looked toward the sky above. Pray.
I went to the bottom of the drop with a throw bag in one hand and a video recorder in the other. I had to scramble along the slippery boulders at the bottom and before I could even get into position, I heard Joe, who was in a kayak, yell, "YEAH!"
I looked up to see Rob in the water below. His skirt had imploded but he was safe. And triumphant, albeit with a probable broken rib.
But I missed the freakin' descent! I didn't even have a chance to pray yet. Then it dawned on me that he needed to go when he was ready, not me. Besides, he couldn't waste a lot of time thinking about it or the cops might have showed up.
I was happy for Rob, and just glad he was safe, but I was really bummed that I missed it live. Fortunately, Christian was at the top of the falls, and caught it all on video, so I at least saw that.
But to me, here's where things got really interesting. Rob had been working on a nearby construction site that morning and ran Sunset on his lunch break. After running it, probably the most incredible feat of his life, he'd put his tool belt back on. No huge celebration. Just, back to work. He told the other guys at the site what he'd just done, and they all stopped working temporarily to watch the video. They were happy for him, but I got the feeling they would've been more impressed if he showed up in a new car. It was as if he'd said, "Hey guys, I just made 100 straight free throws at the playground."
They weren't disrespectful at all. I just think it's hard to explain and understand what Rob had just done. To me, it made the moment all the more memorable. There was no crowd to cheer like are at so many professional sporting events where people celebrate athletes who do amazing things, but nothing close to as gutsy as Rob's descent.
?I could argue that Rob deserved more, like sponsorship from a big manufacturer or a spot on the evening news. Because in the end it?was just a guy who had pulled off the greatest achievement of his life and a handful of smiles. When you do something as awesome as that, though, what more could you want?